SLA imposes 24-hour curfew in Vadamaraadchi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 October 2007, 20:50 GMT]Sri Lanka Army (SLA) military command in Palaali has announced through military radio and media that Vadamaraadchi area will be under a 24-hour curfew the whole of Sunday, sources in Jaffna said. The normal curfew hours which last from 7:00 p.m to 4:30 a.m. will be modified, and the curfew will not be lifted at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, the announcement said. The 24-hour curfew will continue throughout Sunday until it is lifted on Monday morning 4:30 a.m., according to the directive.

Vadamaraadchi area covered by the SLA checkpoints in Vallai, Mulli, Aayam and Vallipuram will be affected by the curfew, according to the SLA announcement.

SLA has warned residents to stay indoors on Sunday, and has threatened that anyone seen outside their homes in public places will be arrested and prosecuted under Emergency Regulations.

Vadamaraadchi residents speculate that the sudden announcement likely indicates that either there is to be a widespread cordon and search operation at several areas of Vadamaraadchi, or that the SLA plans to move heavy war-arsenal towards Vadamaraadchi East Forward Defence Lines (FDLs).